Philippines: Aboard Air Force One

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One at Ninoy-Aquino International Airport in Manila, Philippines, Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017, before traveling to Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii and then on to Washington. Trump is wrapping up a five country trip through Asia traveling to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines. (Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP)

Trump's long trip to Asia

Beset by challenges at home, President Donald Trump on Friday, Nov. 3 embarked on the longest trip to Asia by an American president in more than a quarter century, looking for help to pressure North Korea to stand down from a nuclear crisis.

Trump’s tour of Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines from Friday to Nov. 15 will take him out of Washington, where he has been beset by several issues.

These include an intensifying federal investigation into Russian meddling in last year’s election, New York’s recovery from an attack that killed eight people and debate over a tax-cut plan that if approved by Congress would be his first major legislative victory.

The last time a U.S. president was in Asia for so long was in late 1991 and early 1992, when President George H.W. Bush became ill at a Japanese state dinner.

Trump then visited Japan and South Korea in search of a united front against North Korea before going to Beijing, where he pushed Chinese President Xi Jinping to get tougher with Pyongyang.

Trump attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Danang, Vietnam, made a state visit to Hanoi and will end his trip with the Association of South East Asia Nations summit in Manila. (Reuters)